Heavy overnight rainfall in Dehradun district caused the Tamsa river to swell, inundating the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple, one of the city’s most revered shrines. Water entered the temple courtyard and rose up to the statue of Hanuman, though the sanctum sanctorum remained safe.
Temple priest Acharya Bipin Joshi told ANI that the river began swelling early in the morning, submerging the entire temple premises.
“The river started flowing heavily around 5 a.m., and soon the entire temple premises were under water. Such a situation has not occurred in a very long time. There has been damage in several places, and we advise people to stay away from rivers during this time. Thankfully, the sanctum sanctorum is safe, and no loss of life has been reported,” he said.
Local residents also described how water surged into the cave temple. One resident said that the water level rose quickly, reaching nearly 10–12 feet.
“Around 4:45 a.m., water entered the cave. As the level kept rising, it went above the Shivling. We somehow managed to escape using ropes,” he said.
Another local reported significant damage to the temple caused by the strong flow of water.
“Due to the strong current, many logs and debris floated into the premises, causing heavy damage. People should stay away from the river under such conditions,” he urged.
(ANI)